Guard for boats



(No Model.)

S. B. GOPP.

GUARD FOR BOATS, SHIPS, .&c. No. 438,917. Patented Oct. 21, 1-890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. GOFF, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

GUARD FOR BOATS, SHIPS, aw.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,917, dated October21, 1890.

Application filed November 11, 1889. Serial No. 329,904. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. Gonnacitt zen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Guards for Boats, Ships, &c.,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings.

The invention consists of bellows-like de vices connected to the sidesof a boat, the same receiving the impact of the waves, which yieldindependently of the motion of the boat so as to relieve the said boatof the shock incident to the waves, and also prevent shipping of water.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a boat embodying my invention.Fig. 2 represents a cross-sectional view thereof, showing one guardraised. Fig. 3 represents a similar view of a modification of theimprovement, showing both guards raised and held elevated as a coveringor roofing for the boat.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the threefigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a boat, having side rails Bsecured to the gunwale below the upper edge thereof. Said rails B extendthroughout the length of the boat from stem to stern.

To the upper side of each rail B is attached the lower end of a guard O,and to the upper edge of the latter is secured a rim D of cork oranalogous material, the said guard 0, being formed of bellows-likefolds, with the rim D resting thereon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Thecork rim D, being lighter than the water, will be raised by a wavestriking the side of the boat, and the gurad O expands or is elevated toreceive the impact or blow of the waves, and also prevents shipping ofwater into the boat, as shown in Fig. 1. l/Vhen the water recedes fromthe side of the boat, the guard O and rim D fall back upon the railB..

The rims D are preferably made in sections to make them flexible, andthereby strengthen the same against vibration and strain.

As shown in Fig. 3, the guards O are adapted to be used for a roofing orcovering of the entire boat. In this instance the boat is supplied withtemporary adjusted rafters E, over which the rims D and guards O aredrawn upward to form a water-proof covering or roof to the boat. In thisform of arrangement a cord F is secured to the rims D to draw the sameupward from the interior of the boat, and thereby completely inclose theoccupants and protect them against weather and sea in each boat, and bearranged in position, when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. Aboat having an automatic elevatingguard attached to the sidesthereof, substantially as described.

2. A boat having an elevating folding guard attached to the sidesthereof, having a buoyant rim in connection therewith, substantiaily asdescribed.

3. A boat having side rails secured thereto, guards connected at theirlower edges to said rails, and buoyant rims connected to the upper edgesof said guards, substantially as described.

4. In a boat, removable rafters adapted to be secured to the innerportions of the gunwales of said boat, water-proof guards having buoyantrims, and a cord secured to said rims for drawing the same and theguards up over the rafters to form a covering for the boat,substantially as described.

SAMUEL B. GOFF.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDEESHEIM, L. JENNINGS.

